>Mohammad Mostafaei Sentenced in Abstentia to 6 Years Imprisonment & Exile to Izeh

Thursday November 11th, 2010 – Mohammad Mostafaei, lawyer and human rights activist [who represented Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani sentenced to death by stoning, and other defendants and left Iran recently] was charged with acting against the national security of the country through cooperation with Persian language media outlets abroad and sentenced in absentia to 6 years imprisonment and exile to Izeh by branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Moghiseh .

According to reports from Jaras, Mohammad Mostafaei was sentenced in absentia by branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Moghiseh. Mostafaei was sentenced to 5 years prison and exile to Izeh acting against the national security of the country through interviews with foreign, Persian speaking media outlets in which he discussed Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case and 1 year prison for propaganda against the regime.

Even though Mostafaei was accused by Tehran Prosecutor of trying to pull off a scam, he was not convicted on the charge of trying to take over the property of another, as there was not sufficient evidence to convict him on this particular charge.

Mostafaei disappeared from Iran after being summoned to the prosecutor’s office on July 24th, 2010. He stated a warrant being issued for his arrest and the fact that he was banned from leaving the country as reasons for leaving Iran.